| Written by NDKO, on 26-04-2007 |
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 The international Dart 18 classes have always been sportive and big fleets. To make sure this will still be the feeling of the Dart 18 in a couple of years, the Dutch Dart Association has tried a new concept. The goal was to attract more young people for Dart sailing and make sure they would also go racing.
So the NDKO came up with the plan in 2005 to attract students to the Dart, by lending a couple of students from the Student Sailing Association Histos a boat. In exchange, the students have to sail all the races during the year. This year there is a fleet of 6 student boats in the Netherlands and the concept proved to be a succes.
 Every Dart race in Holland is sure to have at least 6 boats extra, next to the crew problem which has been solved, because the students can also go racing with the other Dart 18 sailors. Next to that the students blend in perfect with the Dutch Dart Class, most of them are young, ambitious and enjoy racing with a sailing boat.The concept of the studentboats aims on the students who are potential sailors and would like to learn how to race with a catamaran. In short the Dutch Dart Class tries to make racing sailors from potential sailors. This is not only good for the Dart Class, but also for the other catamarans, since some of the students go racing in an other class like the F18.  The student sailing Dart's are potentially good for sponsoring, in the moment there are 2 boats already sponsored by InHolland (a bachelor university in Delft) and ABN Amro.
Overall it can be said that the student Dart sailing program is a success. Of course the organisation of the Worlds in 2008 hopes to see all studentteams at the event, wether they are from the Netherlands or another Dart sailing country.
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